400 people left displaced after a fire ripped through an informal settlement in Seawinds

It is a bleak Christmas for about 400 people who were left displaced after a fire ripped through an informal settlement in Seawinds, on Sunday afternoon.

The City of Cape Town’s Fire & Rescue Service Spokesperson, Jermaine Carelse, said four civilians sustained burn wounds and a fifth civilian suffered a seizure and was taken to hospital.

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He added that three firefighters also sustained burn wounds, two of whom were transported to hospital.

‘’The emergency call was received at 16:40 of informal structures alight in St. Patrick Avenue. Numerous firefighting resources were deployed.  Initial estimates are that dozens of informal structures were destroyed, while at least one formal dwelling was partially damaged,’’ said Jermaine Carelse, the City of Cape Town’s Fire & Rescue Service Spokesperson.

Carelse said authorities are probing the cause of the fire.

The City’s Disaster Risk Management’s Charlotte Powell, said officials will continue their assessments of the fire, on Monday morning.

‘’The blaze destroyed approximately 80 structures, resulting in around 400 people being affected by the incident. The affected individuals are currently staying with friends and/or relatives,’’ said Charlotte Powell, City’s Disaster Risk Management spokesperson.

‘’Gift of the Givers and SASSA will be providing humanitarian assistance. Additionally, officials  from the Electricity Department, Informa Settlements Management, Water & Sanitation, and Solid Waste Management will convene on-site this morning to assess the extent of damage infrastructure as a result of the fire,’’ she added.

 

Done By: Mitchum George